Logging crane



Oct. 20, 1953 M. D. TROYER LOGGING CRANE Filed Aug. 23, 1949 MHEC D. TROY/5E. I By (Ittorneg Patented Oct. 20, 1953 LOGGIN G CRANE 'MarcJ). Troyer, Seattle, wash rassignor toBerger Engineeringcompany, Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application August 23, 1949, S'eria'.l'-No. 1 11;81 1

2 Claims. '(Cl. 214-147) "This invention relates to log .handling devices and it .has :reference more particularly "to improvements in log -handling cranes.

:Explanatory to the present invention, it will here :be "stated :that it .is .a practise in present-day logging operations, to yard the logs :and then, rby means of machines of the steam :s'hovel type "of construction, "but wherein .the dipper orbucket is replaced .by a pair 'oftongsandxthe .dipper stick equipped with a heeling plate, to ,pick upthe logs and lay'them'on atruck'orrcarifor transportation- To my knowledge, present-day :machines, or cranes as-so used, 'either have the tongs suspended from the boomer-boom stick by a'cable, or fixed to the end-of the boom-stick indefinite position, to open or close in a transverse plane. Cable suspended tongs are not especially desirable because of th lack :of control thereover or control afforded jthereby over the log once it is free of the ground. The relatively fixed support for the tongs on the boom stick is more desirable, but not entirely satisfactory because of .the requirement that a log, in order to beeasilypicked 11p by the tongs, .must extend substantially in the direction-.oftheboom.

In view :of the .above, it has beenthe principal object of this invention toove-rcome the disadvantages in use both in the'suspended tongs and in :the fixed transverse mounting of tongs, by

equipping .the boom-stick witha ,p airwof .tongs that is so mounted that they may be "turned, either manually or by Jpn-Wei, to various angles :relative to the directionn'f the :boom andthemheldatthat place of adjustment, thereby making it possible to engage the open tongs'witha ilcgj'or gripping and then lifting it even "when :the :position :01 the log is at .a substantial angle :to the @direction of the boom.

:More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the equipping-of the boom :01" boomistick with a heeling plate and with a pair of log lifting tongs; the latter being :pivotally attached to :a mounting block that is pivotally attached to the outer end of the boom stick :by a vertically directed pivot 'pin to permit the paired tongs to .be turned laterally to various positions withinza Wide angle extending equally to opposite sides :of the vertical plane :of the "boom .stick.

;It;is.:also an object of the invention .to support the paired tongs :in the mounting block by :a base that "is .secured in the mounting block by :a horizontal pivot pin so that the pair of tongs may swing thereon to various positions within a limited range.

Yet another object of'the invention is "to provide power ioperated means adjusting the tong mounting block to warious positions within the angle of lateral adjustment.

:Still :further objects :of my invention reside in the details of construction and :combination'of parts comprised-thereinfand in their modeof use, as will hereinafter be fully-described.

In-accomplishing these 'and other objects of the invention, .1 have --.provided the .zimproveddetails of construction, the :preierred forms of whicheare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherem- Fig. 1 is z'a-rside-view-of a log :handlingtcraneof steam shovel type, embodying the improvements of the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 .is an enlarged, stop ior zplan view-of :the set of tongs and the mounting therefor as applied to the boom stick; showing also the adj usti-ng J ack and its mode ofeonnection with-the tong mounting block.

Fig. -3 is a front view (of the parts shown in 2,, with 10g gripped by the .Itongs.

Fig. 4 Lisa view similar .to that of Fig. -2, :but illustrating cable connections .ior efiecting .manual adjustment of :the :tong mounting block to different positions relative to the boom stick.

.Referringmore in detail to thedrawings- Thepresentimprovement-is applicable to .those various types .and makes of machine .or cranes of power shovel type, ,for log lifting, employing a boom that extends upwardlyand outwardly .from a turntableform ofsupport, and which is adapted to be raised or lowered :to various :Dositions; the boom Tbeing'equipped with an extendable (and retractable boom stick, which .latter has -a pair of tongs mounted at its outer end.

.In illustrating .the ,present invention, I have shown it (in connection with a common .form of machine of ,power shovel type, designated in its entirety by numeral L0. Thermachine comprises aabase structure U equipped with crawler tracks i2. The base rstr-ucture supports a horizontal platform I3 on which a turntable I4 is mounted in :the usual manner. -:On the turntable is :a cab F5 in which the boom and boomstick operating mechanisms and various other controls may be located; these latter-not being shown in detail in the present drawings.

Hinged to the turntable, as at H5, is the main boom 1 equipped at'its outer end with sheave wheels F8 over which 'a-cable I9 is extended in the usual manner for-supporting and for making the necessary -'adjustments in elevation of the Supported by and extended from the boom IT in the usual way, is a boom stick 2!]. This is contained at its inner end in a guide bearing or housing 25, pivoted on the boom by a pivot shaft in such manner as to permit up and down swinging of the outer end of the stick. The stick is equipped with a longitudinally extending rack bar 21 that is in operative mesh with a pinion gear wheel 28 fixed on the horizontal cross shaft 26, which is rotatably mounted in the boom as support for the housing 25. A sprocket wheel 30 is fixed on the shaft and a chain belt 3| extends thereover from control means in the cab for effectingthe adjustments of the stick in its longitudinal direction.

To angularly adjust the boom stick in a vertical direction relative to the boom, and also to support it, a cable 32 is attached thereto near its outer end. This cable extends over a sheave wheel 33 at the outer end of the boom and to a cable winding drum 34 mounted on the turntable and under the usual form of controls. It is to be understood that the control of the boom stick, the boom, and the turntable, may be accomplished in the usual or any other suitable manner, and forms no novel part of the present invention.

Mounted at the outer end of the boom stick 20 is the tong unit mounting block or frame All. This comprises a flat transversely directed plate a, formed along its upper and lower edges with I integrally cast, rearwardly directed flanges 4I4l' disposed at top and bottom sides of the end portion of the stick, as best shown in Fig. 3. A pivot pin 42 extends perpendicularly through the flanges and stick and thus attaches the frame I or block 40 for pivotal adjustment from a neutral position, as seen in full lines in Fig. 2, to different angular positions facing toward opposite sides of the neutral position, as indicated in the dotted line showing of parts. The forward end of the stick 2!] is beveled at opposite sides to provide a forwardly directed point and the block 48 is adapted to swing to positions against the laterally facing beveled surfaces which determine and limit the arc of adjustment of the block 40.

At its opposite ends, the block or frame 4!) is formed with forwardly directed ears -45 and disposed between these ears is the base block 45 of the tong unit. This base is secured on the mounting 40 by a horizontally directed pivot pin 41 that extends through the ears and block as shown in Fig. 3. The block 46, as thus pivotally or hingedly mounted, is permitted a limited pivotal action. Formed on the base block 46, at its opposite ends and forward side, are bearings 50- 50 in which a pair of tongs 5I--5l' are pivotally mounted. These tongs are in laterally spaced relationship as best shown in Fig. 3, and normally disposed in upright position. The lower ends of the paired tongs are curved in a manner that adapts these portions to embrace the opposite sides of a log received between them and preferably are equipped with spikes 52 to engage the log.

The upper end portions of the tongs extend above the mounting blocks, as shown in Fig. 3, and are connected at their upper ends, with opposite ends of a double acting jack that is designated in its entirety by numeral 55.

The air jack comprises an air cylinder 55a, reciprocally containing a piston 55b from which a rod 550 extends. The cylinder has a lug 55 at one end connected by a pivot bolt 51 with the upper end portion of one of the tongs. The piston rod is likewise connected by bolt 58 with the upper end portion of the other tong. Operating air is admitted from and into opposite ends of the jack cylinder through flexible hose lines 5959, under control of a hand valve 60 that preferably is located in the cab. The valve is connected to a source of supply of air under pressure, designated at 55 by means of pipe 66.

For a controlled angular adjustment of the mounting 6D, I have provided an air cylinder 10 that is pivoted at one end on the stick by pivot pin 12. The cylinder contains a piston 13 from which a rod 15 extends. The rod is pivotally connected at its end, by pivot bolt 16, to the upper flange of the block 40, as shown in Fig. 2. Air for control of the air jack H3 is admitted to the opposite ends of the jack cylinder through flexibl hose lines -430, leading to a control valve 8| connected to the source of air supply by pipe 82.

Thus, by the manipulation of the valve 8|, air may be admitted to cylinder 1!! for pivotal adjustment of the block 46, to a position that will set the tongs in the best position for their application to a log. The log may be lying on the ground at a substantial angle to the direction of the boom, yet the tongs can be disposed, by turning the mounting 38, in position for easy application thereto. ing 43 has no effect on the opening or closing action of the tongs.

Where manual adjustment of the block is desired, this can be accomplished in various ways, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein I have shown cables -85 attached to the top flange of the mounting 49 at opposite side of the central pivot pin 42, and extended to Within the cab for hand control.

Where no control, or when hand control of the mounting 59, is used, it is desirable that a friction means be employed to yieldingly retain the mounting 40 at its different positions of adjustment, and in accomplishing this, I have applied a friction plate 90, as seen in Fig. 5, between the flange M and top surface of the boom stick, and a spring 33 is located between the head 821: of the pivot t2 and the top of the flange 4! to urge the flange tightly against the friction plate. This provision prevents any free swinging of the tong mounting block Mi from one Side to the other, and insures that the mounting 40 will remain at any position of angular adjustment until moved to another position either by manual means or by engaging the mounting with a stationary object and shifting the stick.

The present improvement expedites the handling of logs since it is not necessary that the tongs be engaged with the log to shove it to position at which it can be received between the opened tongs. The lateral angular adjustment makes possible the picking up of logs at one angle and turning them to another for release. Also, the pivoting of the base member 46 of the tong unit provides a flexibility that is advantageous.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. An apparatus for loading logs comprising a mobile turntable, a boom mounted on th turntable to swing therewith, a boom-stick mounted by the boom for vertical, angular adjustment and for extension and retractive movements, a frame pivotally mounted at the outer end of the boom-stick for horizontal turning adjustment between positions facing toward opposite sides of The adjustment of the mount-- the stick, a pair of laterally spaced and downwardly directed 10g gripping tongs pivotally, mounted on the frame, power means on the stick for effecting and retaining said turning adjustments of the frame and power means connected to the tongs for controlling their opening and closing action.

2. An apparatus for the handling of logs, and the like, comprising a vehicle with a turntable mounted thereon, a boom mounted on the turntable, an extendable and retractable boom stick mounted by the boom for angular adjustment in a vertical plane, a frame pivotally mounted at the outer end of the boom stick for turning adjustment thereof horizontally between positions facing toward opposite sides of the stick, power means on the boom stick for effecting said turning adjustments of the frame, a horizontal pivot pin mounted in the frame transversely thereof, a base block mounted on the pin for limited forward and rearward rocking action, a pair of downwardly directed and laterally spaced tongs mounted on said base block, and power means operable for the opening and closing of the tongs.

MARC D. TROYER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,518,560 Carroll Dec. 9, 1924 1,563,505 Lough Dec. 1, 1925 1,890,727 Fundom Dec. 13, 1932 2,327,015 Carlson Aug. 17, 1943 2,387,764 Maxwell Oct. 30, 19 5 2,418,251 Drott Apr. 1, 1947 2,477,401 Billings July 26, 19 9 2,488,767 Drott et a1. Nov. 22, 1949 2,496,696 Burner et a1 Feb. 7, 1950 2,566,616 Larson Sept. 4, 1951 2,613,831 Rees Oct. 14, 1952 2,620,935 Christiansen Dec. 9, 1952 

